Roman Catholic Diocese of Arua
Diocese of Arua Dioecesis Aruaensis | |
|---|---|
Uganda - Diocesi di Arua | |
| Location | |
| Country | Uganda |
| Metropolitan | Gulu |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 10,561 km2 (4,078 sq mi) |
Population
|
|
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Cathedral | Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lodonga |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Sabino Ocan Odoki |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Arua (Latin: Aruaën(sis)) is a diocese of the Catholic Church in Uganda. located in the city of Arua in the ecclesiastical province of Gulu in Uganda. Following the resignation of Bishop Frederick Drandua, on 19 August 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed the Sabino Ocan Odoki, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu, as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Arua, until a substantive bishop is appointed.[1] On October 20, 2010 he was named ordinary Bishop.[2]
Territory
The Diocese of Arua is bordered to the north by the Catholic Diocese of Torit and the Diocese of Yei, both located in South Sudan. To the south, it borders the Nebbi Catholic Diocese in Uganda. The eastern boundary is shared with the Gulu Archdiocese in Uganda, while the western border adjoins the Diocese of Mahagi-Nioka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[2]
History
The Diocese of Arua was establed on June 23, 1958, from Diocese of Gulu and became suffragan of Rubaga. In 1966, it became suffragan of Kampala. In 1996, the Diocese of Nebbi was curved out from some of the territory of the diocese. [3][4]
Leadership
The current bishop of the diocese is Sabino Ocan Odoki, who was appointed in 2010.[5] Bishop Odoki previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gulu before being appointed as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Arua on 19 August 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI, following the resignation of Bishop Frederick Drandua.
Previous Bishops of Arua (Roman rite) include:
- Angelo Tarantino (1959-02-12 – 1984)[6]
- Frederick Drandua (1986-05-27 - 2009-08-19)[7]
- Sabino Ocan Odoki (2010-10-20 - present)[5]
Another priest of this diocese Martin Luluga was appointed auxiliary bishop of Gulu in 1986.[8]
Notable people
Bernardo Sartori, a priest and missionary was venerated by Pope Francis on 13th December, 2021. [9]
See also
External links
Sources
References
- ^ "Bishop Ocan Odoki is Apostolic Administrator of Arua Catholic Diocese Since August 2009". aruadiocese.org. aruadiocese.org. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ a b "Our Bishops". dioceseofarua.org. Diocese of Arua. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Arua Diocese". Uganda Episcopal Conference. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Arua (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Diocese of Arua, Uganda". gcatholic.org. GCatholic.org. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Bishop Angelo Tarantino [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Bishop Frederick Drandua [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Bishop Martin Luluga [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Ombaci Celebrates- Arua Diocese". www.dioceseofarua.org. Retrieved 1 July 2025.